Means for setting meters.



E. H. FORD.

MEANS EOE SETTING METERS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22, 1909.

Patented Nov. l, 1910.

fv/ /f/,f f f f /f/f //////U///// ///l ,r/ f f /f// ff 3 Illl llil

Arr'yS.

' 1s difiicult and` tedious.

specification.

MENS FOR SETTING METERS.

-Speeeation of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. i., initd.

Application tiled .Tune 22, 15909. Serial No. 503,595.

.To all whom it may concern: j

Be it `known that I, EDWIN H. Fono, a citizen ot' the Unit-ed States, residing at Hartford City, in the county of Blackford and State ot' Indiana, have'invented certain new anduse'ful improvements in Means for Setting Meters,

This inventionv relates to certain means for setting meters, for both gas and Water, Within the boxes ,which are let into the ground. y Y

The object of the invention is to provide means wherebyl meters .for both gas and rwater can be easily and accurately connected and disconnected A to and from the yservice pipes from the top of the meter boxes.

A further-.object of the invention consists in the provision of means whereby the meters can be disconnected and removed from the.

boxes Without affecting the remaining' parts.

A. further object of the invention consists in the provision of meter boxes which are small and compact io enable them to be set in an ordinary trench, thereby making additional excavation unnecessary.v

The above objects of the invention are accomplished by means of the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in Which Figure 1 is a detail view in vertical section of a meter box and means for mounting the meter, the latter being shown in eleva? tion.` Fig. 2 is a cross section of the construction shown in Fig., 1, the meter being shown in top plan.

In the drawings, 1 represents the casing which forms thebody of the meter box; 2

the inlet service pipe, and 3 the outlet serv ice pipe.

Much trouble is experienced in attaching the meters to the ends of the service pipes in the meter boxes in common use, that is, to get them to sit level. Generally, in plac# ing other-11ieter boxes, insutlicient excavations are made in order to reduce the expense so that the Work in placing the meters To remedy the above dilicultiesis one of the chief objects of the invent-ion and is accomplished by pervmitting the connections With the service pipes and the setting ot the meters to be made from the top of the meter boxes. These connections-are effected by means of the two members 7 and 8 which are provided of which the following is a with the vertical internal passageways l0 and 11. These passageways provide means for conveying the Water between the ends ie service pipes and the meter. The lower ends of the passagcways l0 and 11 are provided with internal threads which engage corresponding threads on the ends of the service pipes 2 and 3. The threaded connections between the members '7 and 8 and the pipes 2 and 3 enable the outlets to the passageway/s to be brought to a common level, thereby permitting the meter to be accurately placed in position. The members 7 and 8 are held in rigid relation, after they have been properly adjusted on the ends of the service pipes 2 and 3, by means of the frame 15 securely attached to said members by the bolts 16. The members 7 and 8 are provided with horizontal assageways 17 and 1S which forni outlets i'or the passage ways 10 and 11. The meter Q0 isinternosed between the passageways l0 and 1i frein the top of the meter box by a special tool, the latter forming no part of this invention.

The meter is placed into operating position and leakage at the joints is prevented in the following manner: A. portion of the nieniber 8 above the passageway 18 is cut away to form `an open channel adapted to receive the outlet end of the pipe 21 of the meter 20, and a gasket 22 is interposed between the outlet end oii'said pipe and the adjacent wall` 23 of the .member S, which gasket prevents leakage at this point. The passageway 17 in the member 7 is enlarged as at 25 and receives the hollow sleeve 26 formed onthe yoke 27, and a gasket 28 is inserted between the, end of the sleeve 2G and the shoulder formed by the enlargement 25. A saddle 30 is provided. to support the inlet end of the pipe 21. The

saddle is reduced in diameter at 31 so as t to permit a portion of the head to project between the guide prongs 32 ou the yoke 27, thereby permitting' slight longitudinal movement of said saddle Within said yoke. rlhe saddle 30 is also provided with the integral hollow sleeve 34 which extends through the yoke '27 and into the passageway 17, and a gasket 35 is inserted between the inlet end oi the pipe 21 and the Wall at the end of the open channel in said saddle.

It will be noted by examining Fig. 2 of the drawings, that in reducing the diameter llt of the saddle 30, as at 3l, a way 37 is formed on each side-between the head o the saddle and the ends of the guide prongs 32 on the yoke 27. rl`he ways 37 receive a U--shaped key. 40, provided with the prongs 4l which are inclined to form a Wedge. See Fig. 1. The body of the key 40 is provided with a rod or handle 42 which extends upf Wardly to the top of the meter box so that the key maybe operated from that point. When the key is depressed the wedgesliaped prongs 41 are forced downwardly.- -This movement of the key forces the saddlev 30 and the meter 20 to move toward the right, causing the saddle to compress the gasket 35 vtightly againstthe inlet end of the pipe 21, while the outlet end 4of said pipe is forced tightly against the gasket 22 in the member 8. This same movement of the key 40, which forces the saddle 80- to the conical formations of the internal Walls, are inserted into the said passageways, and the said sleeves are provided on the upper exterior surfaces with threads, so that by means otl the nuts 45 the sleeves can be tightly drawn into position. The sleeves are provided with outlet openings 'which communicate with the horizontal passageways 1 7 and 18 in. the members 7 and 8. Valves 46. also formed of brass to permit .proper fittings to be made and to prevent rusting, are inserted into the sleeves 44. and.

'these valves are provided at the tops with the nut-heads 48 by which the valves are drawn tightly into the sleeves and also provide the means to enable the valves to be operated. The lower ends oi the valves 46 are cupped out, and are provided-with openings in the walls which register with the open-4 ings inthe walls of the sleeves 44.l By sutiiciently turning the valves 46 to remove the openings in the valves 'from the openings in the sleeves 44 the service is discontinued. and vice versa. Having thus fully described my said invention, what desire to secure by Letters Patent is- Li. A, device otthe above-specified class including the meter box and service pipes` meter supporting vmeans adjustably 'arl ranged on the ends of said service pipes and provided with internal passageways for con-l Awith the interna supporting' means t Se, Hol ow brass sleeves 44, formed` service pipes an 'avessiveying the water or gas between said service pipes .and'iineter, means for securing said supporting means together when adinsted. a meter, and means for securing said meter between said' sup orting means and in. line passageways.

2. A device of the above speciied class including the meter box and service pipes, meter supportin means adjustably arranged'on tlie en s of said service pipes and provided with internal passageways for conveyingtlie water or gas between said serv ice pipes and meter, means for securing the together when adjusted? a meter, means for securing said meter between the supporting means and in line with .the internal passageways, and means adapted to establish or Adiscontinue the water or gas supply through said meter and meter supporting means.

3. A device of theabove specified class including the meter 4box and service pipes, meter supporting means adjustably arranged on the ends of said service pipes and provided with internal passageways for conveying the water or gas between said serv- .ice pipes and meter, means for securing the supporting means when adjusted,- a meter, means' for securing said meter between the supporting means and in line' with said internal assageways, and means adapted to establis or discontinue the water or gas supply through said meter and meter supporting means.

4. A device vof the above specified class including the meter box and service pipes7 meter supporting means, provided with recesses to receive the ends o the meter pipes adjustably arian ed on the ends of said provided with internal passageways for conveying the water or gas etween said service pipes and' meter. the upper endsl of said passageways' being formed conically, hollow sleeves adapted to rest VWithin the conically formed ends of said passageways, valves 'operating within said sleeves to open or close communication through said passageways,. and a meter adapted to be interposed between the meter supporting means land in line with said internal passagewa'ys.

5. A device oi the above specified class including the meter box and service pipes7 meter supporting means, provided with re-1 cesses to receive the ends offthe meter pipes 1adjiistably arranged. on the ends of said. Vservice pipes and provided with internal passageways for conveying the water or gas etween said service pipes and meter, the upper ends of# said passageways being formed conically, hollow sleeves adapted to rest within the conieally formed ends of said passagevvays, means adapted to draw said sleeves snugly into said conically Atermed u ends, valves operating withinsaid sleeves to open or close communication through said this,` 29th day of May, A.I D. ori-1e( thouzsand passageways, and a meter adapted to be inninevhundred and nine. v

ter osed between the meter su ortin' mens and in line with said intergll pasg- EDWIN FORD' [Lfs'] f. 5 sa eways. vv-Witnesses: v

` n witness whereof, I, have hereunto sei;` F. W. WOERNER, my hand and seal at Indianapolis, Indiana, A L. B. WoEnN'EB. 

